<h4>Muscle car insurance isn’t the place to try to save money! It’s a critical part of owning your dream car.</h4>
Here’s a handy checklist that can be used when you research muscle car and classic car insurance companies. The company that answers the questions correctly for your specific muscle car should earn your business.
Is muscle car insurance a standard part of their product offering?
Traditional insurance companies usually don’t offer speciality car insurance that covers muscle cars but some do. Call the agency that insures your daily drivers and get a quote. It’s good for comparison purposes. They may give a quote but be sure they know the type of vehicle you are insuring. Some agents may think a 1979 Pontiac Firebird is just an old car.
What classes of classic car insurance do they have and what are the differences? Are there model year restrictions?
Hot rods or modified classic cars aren’t always covered by a standard model year definition. You need to understand the various classes of insurance the company offers and where the agent would fit your car.
Do they offered agreed value or stated value coverage?
Most classic car insurance companies offer agreed value coverage because muscle cars were usually built outside of the model years covered by the standard insurance company value guides. The difference is how you are required to provide proof of the stated or agreed value of your car. Some require a professional appraisal while others will be satisfied with photos. One traditional insurance company wanted copies of every receipt of work done on our muscle car before they would provide a quote. Unfortunately, the value of the receipts does not take into consideration the labour costs that we get for free since we do our own work or the market value of our car in the collector car market.
Is a professional appraisal required?
Some companies (especially a traditional insurance vendor) require a written appraisal before quoting or providing muscle car insurance. Click here for info on muscle car appraisals. Speciality insurers like Hagerty or Heacock usually don’t ask for this.
Are photos required?
Aren’t you happy to provide photos? This is good protection for YOU as well as the insurance company.
What are the liability limits offered? What are the deductibles?
Don’t risk putting minimal insurance on your muscle car. Even though you may not drive it every day, the potential loss to you AND to personal property or bodily harm still exists. And, of course, you will want to know your out of pocket costs in the case of an accident.
Are there mileage limitations?
Some insurance companies limit mileage based on the type and level of insurance you purchase. If you have a cool muscle car you drive to car shows and cruises in nice weather, you will need to know mileage limitations. Of course if you have a trailer queen, it won’t matter so much. For more information, see this page with details on registering a muscle car.
Do modifications affect the insurance coverage and/or rates?
Each company defines modifications differently. One company classifies any change from “as factory delivered” as modified. Another company defines modified as substantial changes to frame, suspension, power train etc. For the purposes of our personal muscle car search, we would need to know if swapping the delivered 318 cu in. motor to a period correct 340 cu in. motor would increase our rate or change the classification.
Are there storage restrictions?
Based on the company and level of insurance provided, you may need to keep your muscle car in a locked garage or other secured facility.
Are there driver restrictions?
This is important information. Some insurance companies take into consideration other drivers that live in the home (and their driving records) even though there is no way your 18 year old is going to drive your muscle car. Needless to say, it could increase the rate dramatically.
Are roadside assistance, towing or other services included or available? Do deductibles apply to this type of service?
Unexpected problems can happen on the way to a cruise or car show. The various insurance vendors provide a wide range of services from basic towing to spare parts coverage and trip interruption benefits.
Do they offer good driver discounts or safety equipment discounts?
Similar to traditional car insurance companies, muscle car insurance companies may offer discounts for a good driving record or for installation of security devices such as Lojack or car alarms.
How are claims submitted?
Is there 24 hour claim service? This is where a traditional company may provide better service than a speciality car insurance company. You’ll want to know the turnaround time on claims, too.
Can you register and make payments electronically?
Hopefully so! Once you find your muscle car you don’t want to wait for the post office and banks to conduct business through snail mail before you can start enjoying it. Plus this also makes it easier to renew and make payments.
When does coverage begin? Do you get an insurance card/certificate?
If an insurance card/certificate won’t be mailed to you, you will need to print out proof of insurance and tuck it in the glove box or your wallet. Be prepared.
Can they provide customer references/reviews, specifically for muscle car insurance?
The answer should be yes, whether or not you actually plan to check the references or reviews.
<h4>We hope the muscle car insurance checklist is helpful!</h4>
When you are prepared with the right information, you can make a good decision that gives the best protection for your muscle car and doesn’t hurt your wallet.
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